Dora Maar

Henriette Theodora Markovitch alias Dora Maar (December 22 1907 – July 16 1997) was a French photographer and painter, best known for being a lover and muse of Pablo Picasso.

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She was born in Tours, Western France, on December 22, 1907. She died 89 years of age in Paris on July 16, 1997. Her father was of Yugoslavian origin, her mother was born in the Tourraine, France. Dora grew up in Argentina.

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She was famous as photographer, and also was a painter herself, before she met Picasso. She made herself better known in the world with her photographs of the successive stages of the completion of Guernica that Picasso painted in his workshop of the rue des Grands Augustins, and other photos of Picasso. Together she and Picasso studied printing with Man Ray.

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Picasso met her in January 1936 (when he was 54 years old) at the terrace of the Caf? Les Deux Magots in Saint-Germain-des-Pr?s, Paris. He was attracted by her beauty and self mutilation (cutting her fingers and the table - he got her bloody gloves and exhibited them on a shelf in his appartment). The famous poet Paul Eluard, who accompanied him had to introduce him to this beautiful sad woman. She talked Spanish fluently, so Picasso was even more fascinated. Their relationship lasted nearly nine years.

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Dora Maar became the rival of blonde Marie-Th?r?se Walter who had given a daughter named Maya to Picasso. Picasso often painted beautiful sad Dora (she suffered for she was sterile), he called her his "private muse".

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Dora Maar kept his paintings for herself until her death in 1997. They were souvenirs for their extraordinary love affair which made her famous forever. For him she was the "Woman in tears" in many aspects. She suffered from his moods during their love affair. Also she hated the idea that in 1943 he had found a new lover: the Catalan Fran?oise Gilot. Picasso and Paul Elouard sent Dora to their friend, the psychiatrist Jacques Lacan, who treated her with psychoanalysis. In Paris, still occupied by the Germans, Picasso left her as a good-bye gift in April 1944 a drawing of 1915 representing Max Jacob his close friend who had just died in the transit camp of Drancy after his arrest by the Nazis. He also left her some still lives and a house at M?nerbes in the Provence.

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December 22: December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 9 days remaining....

1907: 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar)....

July 16: July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining....

Dora Maar related Images and Photos (experimental)

Portrait of Dora Maar c.1937	Dora Bryan	Dora Bryan	Dora Backpack & Boots
Dora's Explorer Girls Dora Doll	Dora the Explorer Magic Fairy Dora	Dora the Explorer Flower Girl Dora	Dora the Explorer Ballet Star Dora
Dora the Explorer Swim & Splash Mermaid Dora Doll	Dora the Explorer Bedtime Sleepy Dreams Dora Doll	Dora the Explorer Tub Adventure Dora and Boots	Dora the Explorer Dora's Pony Place Play Packs Case